The Relationship between Emotional Maturity,Intelligence and Creativity in Gifted Children *

Abstract

From experience of working with gifted children we could observe a gap between their intellectual and emotional functions. The purpose of this study was to explore the inter-relationships between emotional maturity and intelligence in gifted children. Emotional maturity is defined as the strength and courage to actualize individual abilities within the frame of social demands. Our hypothesis was that emotional maturity would have an affect on creativity, independent of intelligence.

In the study, 221 children participated, between the ages of 9–13. All were measured for emotional maturity, intelligence and creativity. Results showed an effect of emotional maturity on creativity, as well as an effect of intelligence.

Among the highly intelligent group, emotionally mature children were more creative. These results demonstrate that giftedness is conditioned not only by high intelligence but that emotional maturity has its share in it, and their interaction facilitates creative behavior — the actualization of the whole personality.

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